Orwell’s Shooting an Elephant

George Orwell’s Shooting an Elephant George Orwell writes of his experience in British-ruled India in the early twentieth century as a sub-divisional police officer in the sovereign Southeast Asia state of Burma. His essay presents a powerful theme of inner conflict. Orwell’s strong inner conflict lies between what he believes as a human being and what he should do as an imperial police officer. Orwell immediately claims his perspective on British imperialism saying that it is evil and that he is fully against the British oppressors, even though he himself is a symbol of foreign oppression to the Burmese.His conflict ultimately results from the fact that he hates the British Empire, which should make him pity the Burmese people, but he does not. This is made clear when he says: â€Å"All I knew that I was stuck between my hatred of the empire I served and my rage against the evil-spirited beasts who tried to make my job impossible† (Orwell 1). In his story Orwell writes not only about his personal experience with the â€Å"wild† elephant but how the elephant’s rampaging spree is a metaphor exhibiting the destructive power of imperialism; the elephant destroys homes and even kills a man.Orwell’s hostile feelings toward the British, imperialism, and the Burmese people are further revealed when sets the mood of the story by illustrating the setting in Burma to be a â€Å"cloudy, stuffy morning at the beginning of the rains† (Orwell 2). Orwell then establishes himself as a â€Å"weak† character when he introduces the Burma people and how they completely disrespect the British officer by constantly laughing and mocking him. When Orwell finally finds the elephant, he admits that, â€Å"I knew with perfect certainty that I ought not to shoot him†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ nd that he â€Å"did not want to shoot the elephant† (Orwell 2). He ultimately falls into the expectations of the Burmese when he decides to shoot t he elephant, despite the many reasons not to shoot it such as how it is worth more alive rather than dead. When he kills the elephant he goes against his will and moral belief, and Orwell uses the death of the elephant as another metaphor of British imperialism in Burma. The elephant is a symbol of Burma and its struggle to remain alive after three Anglo-Burmese wars starting in 1824 between the British oppressors and the Burmese.Even after a third shot, the elephant survives, symbolizing how the Burmese are still alive but with less power, strength and hope than before the wars. Even though Orwell tries to justify his killing the elephant by stating, â€Å"legally I did the right thing, a mad elephant has to be killed,† he knows that the elephant could have been saved without unnecessary harm and this exemplifies the final collapse of his morals (Orwell 4). As the story develops, it becomes progressively evident that the natives have control over the white man who is suppose d to be in power.Orwell realizes that as the symbol of British oppression, he is actually the victim of the Burmese, and it is their expectations of how he should use his power that force him to do what they want. As I mentioned earlier, Orwell makes many comparisons throughout the story that demonstrate his weakness in character; he equates himself to a puppet being controlled with the Burman crowd behind him as the audience, as well as how he feels forced to wear a mask constantly and play the role of a white man.Orwell does a great job at shedding light on the fact that humans can be influenced so easily as well as how the influences of imperialism produce harmful effects on both the victims and oppressors. Orwell is supposed to be the higher power as an imperial police officer but because he is subjected to the evils of imperialism he becomes the victim. Orwell leaves readers with a powerful ending implication that human beings will do almost anything and act in unimaginable way s just to â€Å"avoid looking a fool† (Orwell 4).It is my opinion that Orwell’s essay succeeds in conveying its message because it combines personal experience and political opinion into a smooth reading story. Source Orwell, George. â€Å"George Orwell: ‘Shooting an Elephant'† George Orwell's Library. New Writing. –GB, London. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. http://orwell. ru/library/articles/elephant/english/e_eleph

Agricultural Problems In Cyprus

The backbone of Cyprus economy when it achieved its independence was agriculture. The major contribution came from small farms and at times from subsistence farms. Exportation of vegetables and fruits were made possible by irrigation projects in the nineteen sixties. The demands for wine, meat and dairy products were met by commercialized farming.In the early nineteen seventies, the farms supplied   about seventy percent of commodity exports and employed one third of the island's active population despite the fact that the farms were still overwhelmingly small[1]. However, the expansion of manufacturing and service sector led to a decline in the importance of agriculture.The share of agriculture's Gross Domestic Product in the first half of the nineteen seventies amounted to eighteen percent.The northern Turkish Cypriot community was left in possession of agricultural resources with the nineteen seventy four de facto division of the island. It produced four-fifth of cereal and citr us crops, all of the tobacco and two thirds of the green fodder.The south on the other hand retained the entire island's grape growing areas and deciduous fruit orchards. The south was also in possession of about seventy fiver percent of the valuable potato crops and other vegetables and half of the island's olive trees. It also had sixty three percent of its carob trees.Two thirds of the livestock population was also in the south. A large scale uncoordinated exchange of agricultural labor between the north and south was created by the Turkish occupation of the region[2]. This led to agricultural unemployment which was countered by government actions. Such government actions included assisting farmers financially under terms that would enable them to carry out their activities without much burden.By nineteen seventy eight, the number of individuals employed in the agricultural sector under government controlled area constituted twenty three percent of the working population. The agr icultural sector's workforce however declined to 20.7 percent in nineteen seventy nine and 15.8 percent in nineteen eighty seven[3].Its contribution to the overall economy of the state also declined from 17.3 percent GDP in nineteen seventy six to ten point seven percent in nineteen seventy nine and a further seven point seven percent in nineteen ninety eight[4].This share was vital to the economy of the south. In nineteen eighty eight, value added in agriculture at constant nineteen ninety five prices amounted to one hundred and twelve million-seven hundred thousand Cyprus pound.As the service sector increasingly became dominant in the economy of the Greek Cypriots, the share of agriculture in the national economy declined even further in the nineteen nineties. However, the favorable climate of the region and the availability of market owing to its location still mean that agriculture will continue playing an important and stable role in the overall economy.The irrigation projects set by the government, tax policies and subsidies encouraged the existence of farming as well as research in exotic crops and new varieties of the ones that already exist. The effort to improve agriculture, forestry and fishing was overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.This ministry was supported by Agricultural Research Institute, Meteorological Service, Department of Water Services, the Veterinary Service and the Department of Geological Survey[5]. All these departments worked together in formulation of policies that affect the sector.The government also encouraged agriculture in addition to macroeconomic considerations since it offered the rural population employment which maintained village life and relieved urban crowding. Part time agricultural work also allowed the urban residents to maintain contact with their villages besides offering them supplemental income.The contribution of agriculture to the national economy has steadily declined. However, in t he past decade it has stabilized between three and four percent[6]. In 2004, the contribution of agriculture to exports went up to twenty four percent which is the highest since nineteen ninety six. This is near the historical thirty four year average.The number of individuals employed in the agricultural sector has also declined remarkably. In 2005, only four point eight percent were employed in the agricultural sector as compared to about thirty percent in nineteen sixties.This percentage is however higher for men at 5.7 percent than women at 3.7 percent[7]. Of this population, about are holders and family members while the remaining one out of five are employees. These numbers are larger in crop than in livestock sector. Since 2001, full time working equivalent has been around seven percent.In 2003, the gross agricultural output went up and remained steady through 2004. However, with regard to quantity, the crop output has been steadily falling and is about eighty eight percent o f what it used to be in nineteen ninety five.On the other hand, livestock output has been going up and now stands at above one-hundred percent of the nineteen ninety five figures. In 2004, prices were fourteen percent higher than in 1995 with the crop prices recording higher percentage points than livestock prices. Crop prices were between five to twenty percent higher even though the gap is being closed by livestock prices.Overview of agricultural and rural sector developmentCrop area consist of thirty percent permanent crop area and seventy percent temporary crop area. About forty to forty five percent of the total area hold cereals with fifteen to twenty percent of the total holding fodder crops which shows a decrease after a steady increase until two thousand[8].Vine area has recorded a decrease from eighteen percent in nineteen ninety to eleven percent of the total in two thousand and two. This was largely due to the incentives that were paid to farmers in an attempt to avoid o verproduction of vines.A small increase was exhibited by olives on olive oil production to eight percent of the total. Citrus recorded a decrease by one percent in the year two thousand but has then been stable. Three percent of the total area is occupied by fresh fruits. Both the fresh fruits and citrus are completely irrigable. Uncultivated land remained relatively constant at between thirty five and forty percent of the total area.The most extreme fluctuation was recorded by barley with thirty seven thousand tons being produced in the year two thousand as compared with one-hundred and twenty eight thousand tons produced two years later. An average yield of two point four tons per hectare is represented by the 2002 production.The fluctuation highlight Cyprus' periodical water shortage and the annual weather changes. The falling grapes production represents the decrease in the cultivated area. After a big decrease in the year two thousand, the production of grape fruit has steadied .Generally, the production of citrus fruits has shown a gradual decrease since nineteen ninety but it has steadied to some extent during the past few years. Extreme fluctuations are not often recorded by potatoes but their massive share in agricultural output and exports implies that their fluctuation impacts greatly on agricultural economy.Olives have constantly increased to reach more than twenty seven thousand tons. This figure is twice what it was some few years ago. This can be attributed to the increase in irrigable land.

Effects on economic efficiency of government price controls and taxes Term Paper

Effects on economic efficiency of government price controls and taxes - Term Paper Example The marginal gain is the extra benefit to a consumer from the usage of one extra unit of the service and good. The overall quantity a consumer surplus in any market is equivalent to the region beneath the demand curve and over the market price. This region shows the gain to consumers in surplus of the price they exchanged for a commodity. In the diagram below consumer surplus is represented by region A where it is above market price of ? 5 and the units sold which amount 5,000. Source: (Sexton, 2010) Producer Surplus Producer surplus refers to the distinction amid the least price a company would have been eager to allow and the price the company actually obtains. The overall quantity of the producer surplus in a market is equivalent to the region above the market surplus curve and beneath the price in the market. The supply curve illustrates the eagerness of companies to supply a commodity at various prices. Firms will be willing to supply an extra unit of a commodity only where they obtain a price equivalent to the extra price of production of that unit. Marginal cost is the extra cost to a company of making one extra unit of a product or service. Normally, the marginal cost of making a product rises as additional products are made in a given time period. The diagram below shows the relationship between the consumer surplus and the producer surplus. The producer surplus on a demand curve is found below the consumer surplus and above the supply curve. Source: (Sexton, 2010) A competitive market is one which has numerous buyers and sellers. One of the advantages of a market system is that it leads into effectual results. In a competitive equilibrium the marginal benefit is equivalent to the marginal cost where equilibrium leads to an economical effectual level of outcome in a competitive market. On the other hand, deadweight loss refers to a situation where the cost of a product is above the average or equilibrium price, economic surplus is below what it could b e at the equilibrium price. The decrease in the economic surplus emanating from the market which is not in a competitive equilibrium is what is known as the deadweight loss. The diagram below shows the deadweight loss on a demand and supply curve. Source: (Sexton, 2010) Economic Surplus and Economic Efficiency As mentioned earlier consumer surplus gives the dimension of the benefits to customers from purchasing a specific type of good while the producer surplus provides the dimension of the benefits to firms from merchandising a specific commodity. Thus economic surplus is now the total of the benefits to the company plus the benefits to individual consumers. This is normally the most efficient measure of the advantage to the community from the manufacture of a product or service. Equilibrium in the aggressive market leads into the highest quantity of economic surplus or the entire gain to the community from the manufacture of product or service. In the diagram below the blue and th e brown region represents the economic surplus. Source: (Sexton, 2010) Economic efficiency on the other hand refers to the market results where the marginal gain to consumers of the final produced unit is equivalent to its marginal production cost and where the total of consumer surplus and that of producer surplus is at its highest best (Sexton, 2010). It must be noted that not every person is better off in case a market is

HS630 Week 5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

HS630 Week 5 - Essay Example The preparedness measures and resource preparedness strategies that need to be executed to prevent and to mitigate the situation to ensure the future going concern of this business include ( Lindell 2006). Risk management procedures should be clearly outlined and operational at all the times during the business operations. This strategy is the key driver towards the implementation of the business response and recovery plans because it boosts the readiness and the preparedness of the business towards major disasters associated with the shipping agency and the liners business. This strategy involves the mobilization of the available resources and acquiring the required facilities to be used upon the eventuality of any disasters. The facilities should include fire stations and trucks, availability of highly trained staff and employees who are able to mitigate both the foreseeable and unforeseeable disaster at the ports as well as the ships in the waters ( Lindell 2006). This strategy involves the identification and the analysis of the cross-sectoral dependencies that exist in the operations of the business. The role of this strategy is to asses the reliability of the business emergency preparedness and the critical infrastructure protection, the established special team is obligated to carry out several test and exercise on the effectiveness and the reliability of the business. A special team is obligated for this task and their report is submitted to the risk management team of the company for further examinations in regard to the critical infrastructure business ( Lindell 2006). The findings on the tests and the conducted exercise are very useful in the decision making of the organization mostly used by the risk management team of the business. Effective and efficient utilization and mobilization of resources is an important aspect in the assessment of various logistics and the overall

Underground space use with urban sustainability Essay

Underground space use with urban sustainability - Essay Example Underground Space Use with Urban Sustainability Moreover, city planners are faced with a huge task of ensuring that services in urban areas are not disrupted; despite the high number of people streaming to urban centers, the quality of life in cities has to remain unchanged. Moreover, today, there is increasing advocacy on sustainable developments especially with regard to built environment. With increasing awareness on the need to preserve the environment, people are demanding stringent sustainability measures in built environment. Therefore, city planners face a daunting task of deciding the best way to come up with city master plans that ensure sustainability. An approach that has remained untapped in the development of many cities; the approach  promises great opportunities for expansion of cities within sustainable limits is underground urban infrastructure development. Bobylev (2009, 1129) observed that, in order for investors to develop private housing, they require enough transport infrastructure and enough energy supply , which depends on the transport available in such cities. This calls for the need to have proper integration of urban infrastructure development and sustainable development in cities. Therefore, to ensure sustainability despite the growing of urban cities, underground urban development promises potential opportunities, if proper city master plans are prepared to highlight proper urban underground infrastructure designs. Chow et al (2) noted that the ability to maximize space in towns and urban cities would be the greatest challenge for engineers and architectures in the near future. One of the benefits of urban underground infrastructure is that it offers city planners opportunities and space to relocate infrastructure projects such as railway lines, roads, recreational facilities, stores, sports facilities among other amenities. The need for mass transportation services and modern infrastructural development requires new and innovative ways to use the available dwindling space in cities (Chow et al, 3). As a result, efficient use of underground space will ensure planners, developers, landowners and other parties have exciting and untapped opportunities to expand construction projects. Many cities have managed to save huge spaces by designing efficient underground master plans for their transport systems, which has helped not only in reducing congestion but also in maximizing utilization of space in cities. One of the best examples of the huge impacts of underground urban master plan is the London underground station, an underground facility that has managed not only to reduce traffic in the city but also has reshaped the city and utility of space to the best extent possible. The design and the emergence of the London underground station challenged the limits of engineering and city master planning across the globe. The station is an excellent benchmark of what would become of many cities in the future. Space is rapidly becoming scarce while demand for sustainability and the demand for transportation services have increased. Therefore, the London station is an excellent case of typical modernism (Wright, 2011). The tube as it is commonly known made it possible for people to travel between several stations within London at record speeds. As a result, people were no longer willing to live in the city but opted to live away from the city where they can spend a few minutes to get to London (Wright, 2011). T

Environmental Ruin in Nigeria by Foreign Oil Corparations Essay

Environmental Ruin in Nigeria by Foreign Oil Corparations - Essay Example It causes disruption of human, animal and plant populations. Pollution caused by dumping of oil waste is a major threat to biodiversity. The effect of oil spillage on the marine life cannot be ignored. Both the physical properties and chemical properties of the oil have caused the death of many marine flora and fauna (Agyeman, 424). Introduction Nigeria, being a major oil producer, has not escaped these predicaments. The case is abundantly evident in the Niger delta region of Nigeria where oil mining is mostly practiced. Farmers have watched their source of livelihood taken away by oil pollution. Many of the tribes around are traditionally anglers, but the oil spillage has caused considerable reduction in number of fish in the river Niger. Nigeria is the land that has been endowed with both fertile agricultural lands and a rich oil resource. Major oil companies, including Shell, established mines in this country in 1950s. Since then, the oil mining activities have slowly damaged the natural habitats of the country through pollution of water, land and air. The effects have been this extensive that the livelihood of the Ogoni people who have lived in the Niger Delta for over 500 years is threatened. This paper focuses on how failure of the government to enact policies guarding the degradation of the environment has contributed to the state of environment in the Niger delta. ... Ground water has become contaminated and the people cannot dig up wells to get drinking water. Rainwater is also not safe to drink, as it falls in the form of acidic rain. This acidic rain greatly reduces the fertility of the soil, making it inviable for agricultural production. It is unfortunate that there is no piped water for people living in the region. Human right activists say that the foreign oil company has taken the people’s right to access to safe water. The government has instituted legislations that require mud drilled from mines to be confined in wells or landfills, avoiding seepage in developed countries. The Nigerian government lacks such legislation, and the foreign corporation dumps its drilling wastes directly into the rivers. Air pollution Oil mining has largely contributed to the air pollution in the area around the Niger delta. Flaring of natural gas methane is conducted near people’s homes, producing carbon dioxide fumes and soot. The release of th is gas causes a lot of pollution associated with diseases, such as asthma and lung cancer. This flaring has also caused stunted growth of crops in nearby farms. This is because the soot settles on the leaves of plant inhibiting photosynthesis and transpiration, and this has caused reduced crop yields from nearby farms. Oil spills and wastelands The most evident type of pollution is land pollution that is caused by oil spills. Oil spills causes degradation of the top soil by leaching of nutrients and adding toxic chemicals in the soil, making them unsuitable for plant growth. This oil spills cause destruction of vegetation and pollutes water, if released in the water bodies. There are several

What is post-colonialism, and , with a focus on reflexivity, what is Essay

What is post-colonialism, and , with a focus on reflexivity, what is its significance for understanding international relations - Essay Example post-colonial period can be defined as the period where formerly colonised countries came to discover their national identities and this was done in such a manner that there was an emphasis on the freedoms and greatness of local peoples and cultures over those of the colonisers. Therefore, post-colonialism follows an epistemological approach that attempts to address the politics of knowledge in such a manner that ensures a study of the decolonised people and its impact on their identity in the contemporary world. Post-colonialism is essential for the understanding of international relations because it not only compares relations between states before, during, and after colonialism, but it also provides an understanding have come to handle their colonial legacy in the context of interactions with other states. Reflexivity is normally considered to be a constant assessment of knowledge and how it is related to the ways of doing knowledge (Bryant, 2002; Flanagan, 1981). In this context, an individual attempts to assess post-colonialism from a personalised point of view so that he or she comes up with ideas that suggest how the period of post-colonialism has come to affect the relationships of states at an international level. A close study of literature concerning post-colonialism will be analysed and the information gathered applied to how it has come to affect international relations in the modern age. Post-colonialist writers such as Frantz Fanon state that colonialism was essentially destructive to the people who were colonised and this was mainly because of their being dehumanised by their colonisers (Fanon 1963, p.205). Fanon notes that colonialism worked towards the debasement of the human characteristics of the colonised, and this was done in such a manner that it was almost impossible for them to retain their self-esteem under the new circumstances in which they found themselves. The use of both physical and mental violence brought about a situation where

Establish and Maintain Quality Customer Relations for a Small Business Assignment

Establish and Maintain Quality Customer Relations for a Small Business Enterprise - Assignment Example Research customer needs and preferences a) Briefly outline what your business does, what your products and services are, your target market and how your business operates on a day to day basis. Our company sells a dual SIM handheld mobile device that can go online simultaneously. This celphone has also the functionality of T.V. and is capable of running video games in JAVA. It is coupled with a service center that could also serve as an after sales support if our customers will have an issue with their phones. The primary market for our celphones are the business people and professionals because they are the heavy users of mobile phones and needs to be connected all the time. We believe that our dual SIM celphones will be attractive to them, as market research showed, because they have the convenience of dual connectivity without the inconvenience of carrying an extra phone. We will sell our dual SIM celphone through our outlets located strategically in technology hubs where potentia l customers frequent to avail a celphone. Daily operations involves selling our dual SIM celphones, entertaining inquiries and complaints and servicing defective celphones. b) Part A: Identify the types of formal and informal research and communication channels you will use to identify customer needs and preferences. Ensure both quantitative and qualitative data are obtained. Explain how the research will be carried out. Type of research How will it be carried out 1. Survey 2. Market Research 1. Select randomly from the representatives of the market through a form of a questionnaire where such market samples will be asked for their inclination towards a dual SIM celphone. Answers will then be tabulated to determine if indeed the market has an inclination towards our products. 2. To determine the extent and size of the market, a market research has to be done to determine the celphone usage which will serve as our market. The rate of celphone usage will determine the size of our mark et. The data of the number of celphone users can be done by collating data from the mobile phone carriers. Part B: Collect and analyse the data Findings: Formal research: The answers from the survey will be tabulated to determine our hypothesis that there is a market for a dual SIM celphone. The survey conducted indicated that the market is willing to try a dual SIM celphone and this willingness to try a dual SIM celphone can be cultivated from a growing to a full market to sell our phone. Informal research Our market research indicated as there is almost 100 % subscription to mobile telephone carriers (Vodafone:Â  2,465,000 (46.71%), Telecom:Â   2,192,000 (41.54%), 2degrees: 580,112 (10.99%). Deducing from this, it means that we have a huge market for our dual SIM celphone as almost everybody are celphone users. If we can capture enough market share to this mobile users, our business venture can prove to be profitable. SOUTHERN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY National Certificate in Smal l Business Management Assignment 2 Communication channels: The communication channel will be in a form of the traditional pen and paper where data will be collected by asking market representative to answer the survey objectively. In the case of informal research, this can be done by obtaining annual

Credit Scores are a Fair Measure to Help Lenders Estimate Potential Essay

Credit Scores are a Fair Measure to Help Lenders Estimate Potential Risks - Essay Example To simplify their customers’ analytical process, mathematical algorithm can be used by different bureaus to provide a score that customers can use to rapidly assess an individual’s likelihood to repay a certain debt, if the frequency by which other individuals in such situations default in meeting their obligations is given. This means that credit bureaus have to create several credit scores for many individuals. Credit scores that are over 700 are pretty good, and most of them go up to 800 (consumer Reports, 2005). The most widely used method of calculating credit score is FICO, though there are many other methods. It is normally used by mortgage lenders, who use risk-based system to find out the possibility of a borrower to default financial obligations to mortgage lenders. It is important that each individual is always aware of his credit score so that you can work towards improving it. Individuals are therefore advised by consumer welfare advocates to review their r eports of credit at least once every year, so as to ensure their accuracy, and hence increase chances of their credit qualifications (consumer Reports, 2005). ... It offers the best measure of credit risk without individual discrimination in terms of age, sex, gender race or occupation. Credit score is calculated using different data that is found in your credit report. The data is then grouped into five different categories, each with a percentage reflecting the importance in the determination of your score. They are categorized as payment history, amounts owed, credit history length, new credit and other types of credit used as 35%, 30%, 15% 10%, and 10% respectively. All these scores play a vital role in the formula, which then determines your credit score. Credit scores help lenders to estimate the potential risk of giving credit to individuals. Credit reports and scores can affect an individual during tough economic times. Furthermore, it plays an important part in determining an individual’s financial well-being. Credit scores are used by lenders to determine who to give a loan, at what rate of interest, and the credit limit. Acco rding to consumer Reports, (2005), the three major bureaus of credit: Equifax, Trans-union, and Experian, that calculate FICO scores based on data collected from credit card companies and banks. How Credit Scores and Reports are Used Lenders like credit card companies and banks use scores of credit in evaluating potential risks that may be posed by lending money, as well as mitigating losses that result from bad debts. They determine loan qualification, interest rate, and credit limits that lenders may accrue the consumers. It is a trusted system of authorizing the accessibility of credit among individuals. Since it is not limited to banks only, other organizations like insurance companies, government

Technology as a Facilitator in the English as a Foreign Language Essay Example for Free

Technology as a Facilitator in the English as a Foreign Language Essay Technology has taken over most areas of our lives including schools. Specifically, the arrival of the internet changed the way that language is taught thanks to the possibility of communicating throughout the world and because of the many sources online. This essay will deal with different aspects of computers and internet in the process of teaching and learning English as a foreign language (EFL). First, I will give examples of different technological tools that can be used to teach a language. Second, I will present the advantages of using technology for learning different aspects of a language. Then, I will present the disadvantages of technology. Finally, I will provide recommendations for teachers regarding the use of technology in the EFL classroom. I chose this subject since I have worked in the Hi-Tech industry for over a decade and I am interested in applying the Hi-Tech resources to help my students the best way I can. I believe that nowadays technology is the most essential element in our lives, and is a great tool to use in the EFL classroom. Technology includes computers, software programs, internet, video players, overhead projectors and data show projectors, as well as multimedia (texts, films, video, audio, animation, and graphics). Since students need to experience the language in every aspect possible, technology can be an effective tool to teach languages including EFL. This is important because in the early 80s, Howard Gardner proposed the theory of multiple intelligences. He stated that each student is unique and learns in a different ways. Today, various tools and applications of technology can be used in multiple ways in the EFL classroom regardless of the students’ level or the subject taught. It can provide opportunities that address individual student learning and meet the different learning styles. Language learning and teaching is enabled by the many sources of materials that students can use. First, the internet enables teachers to bring different cultures into the classroom, which is an important element in language learning and teaching. For some tasks, such as listening exercises, computers have advantages over traditional approaches because they provide sound as well as visual input that helps students with contextual clues. Second, a variety of  software programs allows students to practice vocabulary, reading, listening comprehension, grammar, and speaking skills. An environment rich with language: allows the students to interact with each other so that learning through communication can occur (Liaw, 1997, in Patel, 2013). The computer with its different learning strategies and games constitutes an attractive kind of teaching. Third, Case and Truscott (1999, in Green, 2003), report that the independence the students acquire while working on a computer pushes them to read from simple to complex texts since it addresses their personal needs. Most students find it easier to approach a writing task on the computer because it is more enjoyable. One reason is the use of graphics and dictionaries available online that help them write more confidently. Moreover, the use of e-mail is a way to encourage students to write in a new language. According to Trenchs (1996, in Green, 2003), students use e-mails, willingly because they dont feel forced to do so and because they know they are not being graded. The lack of pressure encourages students to share information while doing so in a foreign language. In addition, the use of e-mailing is an excellent tool to improve writing skills as well as vocabulary acquisition. The computer and internet have become the main means for communication on a worldwide level and since communication is considered an excellent tool for promoting language learning, technology is welcomed in the EFL classroom. The students have the opportunity to communicate freely without a time limit or social concerns. Even the weaker students are able to take an active part in class and communicate confidently with their teachers through e-mails. In spite of the importance and effectiveness of technology, when teaching and learning EFL in concerned, there are some disadvantages. First, the computer can be an overwhelming and imposing instrument for both students and teachers. The complexity of the computer possibilities may cause frustration, as students and teachers spend a lot of time struggling and trying to understand how to use it. The search for suitable materials is also time consuming and can be very exhausting. In addition Colaric and Jonassen (2003 in Morgan, 2008) warn teachers from the vast library. In  other words, the search for information and hyper-linking may be a distraction from the learning process. An additional disadvantage is the teachers lack of computer skills and technical knowledge. This usually leads to a complete waste of time in class and adds to both teachers and students confusion. Finally, the cost of maintenance is another disadvantage of using technology, especially in schools. So, unless the teacher is well trained in technology, and can solve problems that might occur, a technician will be needed. Schools usually find it difficult to support the purchased technology, and that makes them useless. Hence, in order to turn technology into a teaching strategy, teachers need to be encouraged to acquire the necessary skills in using technology to help improve their teaching. In addition teachers need to be aware of the importance of technology in enhancing learning in the EFL classroom. Once teachers and students learn how to make responsible use of computers, and master the skill of selecting and editing the large range of information for their purposes, language acquisition will become easier. To conclude, having given examples of different technological tools that can be used to teach a language. Then, presented the advantages and disadvantages of using technology in the EFL classroom and finally provided recommendations for teachers regarding the use of technology, it can be said that technology, specifically computers and the internet, has many benefits for language learning when it is used correctly. Teachers can use it to improve the learning environment and the students’ vocabulary as well as reading, listening, and speaking skills. Also, technology in the EFL classroom offers students a range of information, motivation to learn and an enhanced quality of class work. This essay has also shown the disadvantages of using technology when teachers and students do not know how to handle it moderately and wisely. It is extremely important to remember that technology is a great tool in the EFL classroom, but it cannot replace the teacher. References 1.Case, C. and Truscott, D. (1999). Using Technology to Help ESL/EFL Students Develop Language Skills. In: Green, (2003). 2.Green, T. (2003). Using Technology to Help ESL/EFL Students Develop Language Skills. http://iteslj.org/Articles/Ybarra-Technology.html/26.4.2013. 3.Liaw, M.L. (1997). Computer Network Technology-A Facilitator in English Language Teaching Learning. In: Patel, S.D. (2013). 4.Morgan, M. (2008). More Productive Use of Technology in the ESL/EFL Classroom. http://iteslj.org/Articles/Morgan-Technology.html./26.4.2013. 5.Patel, S.D. (2013). Computer Network Technology-A Facilitator in English Language Teaching Learning. https://sites.google.com/site/journaloftechnologyforelt/archive/3-2-april-2013/2-computer-network-technology-a-facilitator-in-english-language-teaching-learning./ 26.4.2013 6.Trenchs, M. (1996). Using Technology to Help ESL/EFL Students Develop Language Skills. In: Green, (2003).

Civil Liberties: Voting Rights and Equal Representation

Civil Liberties: Voting Rights and Equal Representation One of the misconceptions we face in this country is a thorough understanding of civil liberties as they pertain to voting and representation. Many would believe that a country founded on the ideals of a republic would assuredly guarantee the right to vote for all its citizens. However, the ability to vote as we understand it today, was not initially expressed as an affirmative right in the United States Constitution. A central conflict in our nations brief history has been a battle of ideologies between those who would restrain the rights of others in favor of a slim minority versus those who believe that government should reflect the will of the whole of its citizenry. Access to representation remains relevant today because we do not possess a federal right to vote. The constitution has failed to fulfill the democratic premise most believe is a fundamental right. Our history however, has shown us time and time again that we cannot be trusted to apportion civil liberties under the z eitgeist the constitution was written in. In Federalist Paper 84, Hamilton reasons against the provision of the Bill of Rights citing that the constitution is sufficient in providing liberty through the application of checks and balances (Hughes, 2013). In our recent history, however, there has been an increased movement towards the enactment of voting laws aimed specifically, so it would seem, to restrict or curtail the right to vote. This institutional loophole prevents everyone from receiving the benefits afforded by our system of law. States have also established a long history of disenfranchising individuals convicted of felony crimes for the duration of their sentence and in some states for a period thereafter. In a handful of states, voting can only be restored by a petition to the court or governors office. These circumstances point to the need for a constitutional right to suffrage by means of a voting rights amendment or new act altogether. When the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1786, the legal right to vote was a privilege exclusive to white males who owned property. The ramifications of this design would permeate through the nation for the next eighty years. With the passing of the Naturalization Act in 1790, immigrants of Asian descent were prevented from becoming naturalized citizens. In 1848, the treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo declared Mexican nationals living within the territories as United States citizens, while simultaneously imposing voting laws requiring property ownership, English literacy proficiency and other means of discriminatory acts. Following the Civil War and the subsequent abolishment of slavery by the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865, the Southern states sought to perpetuate the economic and social subordination of African Americans through the adoption of the infamous Black Codes (Rossum and Tarr, 2014, p. 50). Congress responded to this overt circumvention through the Civil Rights Act in 18 66 and the Fourteenth Amendment. The Civil Rights Act guaranteed to black citizens the same rights to make and enforce contracts, to inherit, purchase, lease, sell, hold and convey real and personal property and to enjoy the full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings for the security of person and property, as is enjoyed by white citizens (Rossum and Tarr, 2014 p. 51). The Fourteenth Amendment expanded constitutional authority to prevent further violations from the states, however, it addressed the issue generally, rather than enumerating the rights detailed in the Civil Rights Act. African American men were afforded the right to vote, if only technically speaking, through the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment in 1870 although they would continue to be disenfranchised by electoral rules and laws such as poll taxes, the so-called Grandfather Clause statutes, as well as comprehension and literacy exams that were passed to make the regulations more restrictive. Concurrently, women were deprived of their right to vote until 1920. The United States continued to deny naturalization to ethnic groups as evidenced by the Supreme Courts rulings in (Takao Ozawa v. United States, 1922) and (Bhagat Singh Thind v. United States, 1923). These blemishes on our nations history are important reminders of our failings in administering equality proportionately. Increasingly since 2008, there has been a nationwide surge in laws aimed at suppressing voting through limitations on early voting, purges of voter rolls, and voter identification laws. Such enactments adversely affect the elderly, and minorities such as African American and Latino voters. In (Shelby County v. Holder, 2013), the Supreme Court ruled that the coverage formula in Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), which was used to determine the states and political subdivisions subject to Section 5 preclearance, was unconstitutional. While the Court did not invalidate the preclearance mechanism in the Voting Rights Act per se, it effectively halted its use by invalidating the formula that determined which places were subject to the preclearance obligation (Shelby County v. Holder, 2013). Following the invalidation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965s (VRAs) preclearance scheme in Shelby County v. Holder,Section 2 proscribes any voting qualification or prerequisite to voting or standard, practice, or procedure . . . which results in a denial or abridgement of the right of any citizen . . . to vote on account of race or color.Congress added the statutes results language in 1982 to clarify that section 2 violations do not require a showing of intentional discrimination they can be proved by showing discriminatory effect alone.Until recently, circuits have been sharply divided on the appropriate disparate impact test to apply to section 2 vote denial claims (110, No, Stat, codified, C, 2016). Per a Wisconsin federal court in 2014, three hundred thousand registered voters in that state lacked the forms of identification that Republican legislators deemed necessary to cast their ballots (Toobin, 2016). In June 2013, Texas passed (SB 14) which required voters to present one of six acceptable forms of identification to vote in person. Prior to this bill, residents could present voter registration certificates or sign an affidavit if they did not have one of the acceptable forms of identification available to them. Advocacy groups sought an injunction against the enforcement and in (Veasy v. Abbott, 2016), the fifth circuit court of appeals ruled against the bill as it would disproportionately burden black and Hispanic voters, thereby violating the federal Voting Rights Acts ban on racial discrimination in elections. There have been several other cases of the kind and it is likely that we will continue to see an increase of these laws and further discussion. An issue that is not surprisingly on the forefront of everyones minds when it comes to voting rights is the disenfranchisement of those convicted of felony crimes. The Supreme Court ruled in (Richardson v. Ramirez, 1974) that the disenfranchisement of convicted persons was constitutional under Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment which states except for participation in rebellion, or other crime (Rossum and Tarr, 2014 p. 892). However, when considering that obligations have been or are being met while a sentence in being served, convicted felons should be guaranteed to the right to voice their opinion on laws that may very well affect them in their current conditions. Additionally, the disproportionate incarceration of minorities across the nations is further evidence that there is a systematic failure in our systems of law and the ability to impart justice equality. Thirty-four states strip the voting rights of persons convicted of felonies in the past, irrespective if they served probationary periods or prison time. The inability to vote on key legislation or in elections is an additional loss of benefits to convicted persons, it further marginalizes them and does little to reduce recidivism. Those able to freely engage in society and utilize their voice are more able to adapt and cope with the ramifications of their status such as the difficulty to find employment, the inability to work for the federal government, serve in the armed forces or seek political office. Every one of these examples is a reminder of past mistakes, the inability to vote should not be among them. There have been recent surges towards voting restoration laws and the universal right to vote. In 2015, (HR 1459), the Democracy Restoration Act was re-introduced and subsequently referred to committee. Also, introduced in 2015, the Civil Rights Voting Restoration Act (S 457) and the Baltimore Act (S 1610), call for the restoration of voting privileges for those who have completed their prison terms. The creation of the Presidential Commission on Election Administration seeks to address some of the symptoms of the problems with our elections. But is cannot remedy the issue itself. This push towards access to the ballot reinforces the need for basic voting standards through the building of legislative protections for inclusive participation in our democracy. What is inherently germane to the issue is the need for an act guaranteeing a universal right to vote for all Americans. Only then would we truly have a democracy that is representative of all its people without preclusions thereo f. A country that prides itself on its democratic principles should provide such voting standards, for its rich culture, its people, and its future. References Bush v. Gore. (n.d.). Oyez. Retrieved February 5, 2017, from https://www.oyez.org/cases/2000/00-949 Green, John. [Tinkers Thinkers]. (2014, February 18). The Constitution, the Articles, and Federalism Crash Course US History #8. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/JHu6yTDflL4. Hughes, Keith. (2013, September 13). The Federalist Papers Explained. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9lCkWJ72yE. Hughes, Keith. (2014, October 9). The 19th Amendment Explained: The Constitution for Dummies. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/Qf7wX8yc1ws. Katzenbach v. Morgan. (n.d.). Oyez. Retrieved February 5, 2017, from https://www.oyez.org/cases/1965/847 Minor v. United States. (n.d.). Oyez. Retrieved February 5, 2017, from https://www.oyez.org/cases/1969/189 Rossum, R. A., Tarr, G. A. (9th ed.) (2014). American constitutional law: The bill of rights and subsequent amendments (Volume II).Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press. Shelby County v. Holder. (2013). Retrieved February 11, 2017, from Civil Rights, Retrieved from https://www.civilrights.org/shelby-county-v-holder.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/ Shelby County v. Holder. (n.d.). Oyez. Retrieved February 11, 2017, from https://www.oyez.org/cases/2012/12-96 Toobin, J. (2016, December 12). Jeffrey Toobin. The New Yorker. Retrieved from http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/12/12/the-real-voting-scandal-of-2016 Women in the British War Effort: 1914-1918 Women in the British War Effort: 1914-1918 Assess the extent of the contribution made by women to the British war effort 1914-18. When discussing World War One, one point that is often brought up is the contribution women made to the British war effort. It is clear that many women contributed to the war effort, be it through volunteering or working in factories to produce bombs and shells. Women were called to help through requests printed in newspapers, and hundreds enthusiastically volunteered to care for those who were sick or injured.[1] It is often thought that many women jumped at the opportunity to help their country during the war, either due to their patriotism or because of the many new opportunities that were now opening up to them. It is often thought that the contributions that women made to the war effort eventually led to female suffrage in 1918. Though the right to vote was limited to women over the age of thirty, it was seen as a large step forward towards gender equality at the time by many. However, the question remains: what contributions did women make to the British war effort that led to this? This essay shall explore the many different ways in which women contributed to the war, from manual labour to domestic chores. Regardless of the roles they played, many historians agree that the contributions that women made to the British war effort was vital in ensuring victory. As World War One was the first instance of total war, a joint effort by both men and women on the front lines and back home was needed in order to succeed. It is often interpreted that the situation of women during the war was simple. Gail Braybon explains that it is a common misconception that women took over mens jobs during the war, and because of the work they did they were rewarded with the vote; the reality, however, is more complicated.[2] He states that in order to understand women during this period, one must à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ consider women both as subjects, and as objects of pity, derision, hostility or admiration.[3] Alan G. V. Simmonds agrees with this, stating that historians are presented with many uncertainties when it comes to studying working women during the war.[4] Indeed, exploring this area of history does prov e to have challenges, from inaccurate government figures and the many different experiences that the war brought. Even then, it is agreed by many scholars that the contribution made by women to the British war effort was of high importance for many different reasons. When discussing the role of women during the First World War, many immediately think of those who volunteered to help with the sick and wounded during the war. The Voluntary Aid Detachments, also known as the VAD, was founded in 1909 and were a group of untrained nurses who assisted trained nurses by caring for patients. According to Anne Summers, the VADs have been portrayed as the epitome of enthusiasm, dedication and efficiency[5], and between 1914 and 1919 at least 32,000 women served as military nurses.[6] While the VADs were not permitted to ride to the front lines in order to treat wounded soldiers, many were sent abroad in order to serve at British bases; one of the most well-known was in Calais. Despite this, many VADs remained in Britain. The VADs were seen as highly important during war-time Britain, as they were needed in large numbers and quickly.[7] It is often thought that a vast majority of those who volunteered to be part of the VAD were from middle- or upper-class b ackgrounds, and while this is true, it is important to note that a large flux of working class women joined the VAD towards the end of the war.[8] The contribution that the VADs made towards the British war effort, in the end, was extremely important. It is argued that they were so important that they were often compared to volunteer soldiers,[9] which at the time would have increased patriotism in many. This comparison between soldiers and VADs is extremely important in showing how much these women contributed towards the British war effort; that is, arguably, if the comparison had not been made then it would be safe to assume that the role women played was not of great importance in comparison to the men. Therefore, from this is can be proposed that the contribution that the VADs made to the British war effort was very important. Alongside the VADs, there were other important volunteer groups set up during the war. The Womens Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), later renamed Queen Marys Auxiliary Corps, were a group of women who were attached to the army that was founded in 1917. It was founded in order to help solve the issue of providing manpower for the army,[10] though it was not taken very serious, especially by men. This was due to how, according to Gould, The idea of women performing military serviceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ was both disturbing and offensive to many peopleà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.[11] Women were not expected to partake in activities such as this, which is why the WAAC was not taken seriously when it was founded. Even in 1907, when preparations for war were already underway, women were not expected to join the Territorial and Reserves Force, which aimed to train people to defend Britain against invasion.[12] Due to how they were not harshly disciplined and were not expected to fight like men were, it can be disp uted that the WAAC did not necessarily contribute much to the war effort in comparison to the VADs and munitionettes. Other organizations, such as the Womens Royal Air Force (WRAF) and the Womens Land Army (WLA) were set up in 1918 and 1917 respectively in an attempt to get women to do their part. The WLA aimed to get more labour onto the fields in order to produce good harvests during the war and take over from men who had been called to join the army. Around 5,500 women applied by April 1917 and 45,000 women volunteered by the end of the war, only 23,000 women actually worked due to the reluctance for farmers.[13] By volunteering for the WLA, women were able to help with food produce as well as have a sense of patriotism. As food is a necessity, it can therefore be argued that this contribution was important. Without the WLA it is possible that rationing in Britain would have been worse. That being said, as so many women were turned away it can be said that perhaps the need for fa rmers was not as drastic as initially thought. Regardless, this contribution can still be seen as important due to the necessity for food. Another key role that is often discussed alongside the topic of womens contributions to the British war effort is women at work, especially the factory workers who were also known as the munitionettes. According to Angela Woollacott, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ women munition workers received public acclamation for their part in the war effort.[14] Working in munitions factories was extremely dangerous due to the high risks of injury and accidents, and it was because of this that many women involved in these accidents received the Order of the British Empire after the war.[15] While the middle- and upper-classes tended to volunteer as nurses, a vast majority of women who worked in munitions factories were working class women who had to make a living in order to keep their families fed. After the Shell Scandal of 1915, there a greater focus on producing munitions for the war. Due to this, the number of workers who worked in industries classed under munitions increased; for example, in 1914 170,00 0 women worked in the metal industry, though this increased to 594,000 by 1918.[16] Other industries appeared to experience a decrease in workers as women changed occupations to be of more use to the war effort, such as clothing and textiles. Alongside this, many factories turned to making munitions in an attempt to help with the war effort. For example, Woollacott mentions that a tobacco factory began making shells whilst a gramophone factory turned to making shell-fuses.[17] However, working in industry did not come without backlash. It is often thought that women replaced men, and this belief was strong during the war. In The Aberdare Leader, an article about a brawl between two women stated that Women have replaced men in many a walk of life since the out- break of the warà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.[18] This belief that women had replaced the men who had gone off to war was fairly common during this period, and women were often reminded that their jobs were only temporary. Deborah Throm wr ites that the number of women who joined the workforce replacing men is questionable,[19] mainly due to the lack of official figures that support this view. Women were also excluded from certain jobs, such as coal-mining and dock work, meaning that it is impossible for women to have replaced men in the workforce during this period.[20] Regardless, the contribution women made to industry during the war is quite important, especially when one considers the Shell Scandal of 1915. With women working in munitions factories, the possibility of another crisis happening had decreased, and even then they were working in a dangerous environment that saw thousands of injuries and fatalities. Alongside working in factories and volunteering, women were also expected to keep performing their regular domestic duties. This resulted in a double burden, meaning that many married women had to work in order to feed their family as well as care for said family when they were not working. In some cases, it was noted that some women had barely six hours sleep due to her duties at home and at work. [21]It was important that women kept the homefires burning and acted as though everything was normally back home, mainly due to the fear that fathers and sons would not make it back home. During the war married women were expected to leave their jobs in order to look after their family, though not many wanted to or could afford to.[22] Many middle- and upper-class women were in the position where they could afford to leave work, thought the working-class could not. Therefore, regardless of whether they were in employment or not, women were expected to look after the home as though was had not happened. Alongside this, many women did all they could to ensure that they could help those on the front lines. Watson mentions that during the war many women adopted prisoners of war and sent them letters.[23] Homemade goods such as knitted mufflers and socks were also sent to men on the front lines, alongside chocolate and cigarettes, as a form of comfort and a reminder of home.[24] This was quite an important contribution towards the war effort. This is because, by doing this, it was believed that goods from home would increase morality for the men who were fighting on the front lines. Women also tried to persuade men into joining the war through the White Feather Movement. While in some cases this can be seen as cruel, women would bestow men who were not at war with a white feather to show their cowardice. To some this may have encouraged them to enrol before conscription was introduced, though to others who may have received them it would have been unfair, mainly due to in visible disabilities that may have prevented them from enrolling. Nevertheless, the White Feather Movement during the war would not have contributed to much long-term. Womens domestic roles, however, was an extremely important contribution that kept the illusion that everything was normal afloat. Therefore, it can be argued that womens contributions to the home was important for the war effort, even as important as the munition workers and those in employment. The overall contributions that women made to the British war effort were extremely important, both in helping those abroad as well as those back home. Despite the fact that many people were still prejudiced against women working outside of their normal occupations, such as nursing and sewing,[25] it is undeniable that the overall contributions women made to the British war effort was of high importance. Women workers and those who volunteered during the war were, arguably, the most important when it came to contributions, due to the overall impact and contributions that they made. With VADs helping the sick and munition workers making shells and bombs for the army, it is understandable why women were praised considerably during the war despite initial prejudice. Their hard work during the war it why many say that it led to women gaining the right to vote. While this is still somewhere debates amongst historians, it is somewhat clear that their hard work had some role in ensuring wome n suffrage. All women were seen as having an important role at home and abroad during the war, be it volunteering or simply looking after the home. The contributions that women made to the British war effort are important in the sense that it helped women experience a new life, for example working in areas that they may not have worked in before, as well as help the war effort as a whole; to undermine womens contributions is, in a way, to undermine an entire part of the war. Bibliography: Primary Sources: The Aberdare Leader, 29th June 1918, National Library of Wales. Secondary Sources: Beddoe, Deirdre. Back to Home and Duty: Women Between the Wars 1918-1939, London, 1989. Constantine, Stephen, Kirby, Maurice W and Rose, Mary B. The First World War in British History, Great Britain, 1995. Gowdy-Wygant, Cecilia. Cultivating Victory: The Womens Land Army and the Victory Garden, Pittsburgh, 2013. Higonnet, Margaret Randolph, Jenson, Jane, Michel, Sonya and Weitz, Margaret Collins. Behind the Lines: Gender and the Two World Wars, New Haven and London, 1987. Marwick, Arthur. The Deluge, Hampshire, 2006. Simmonds, Alan G.V. Britain and World War One, Oxon, 2012. Summers, Anne. Angels and Citizens, Newbury, 2000. Wall, Richard and Winter, Jay. The Upheaval of War, Cambridge, 1988. Watson, Janet S. K. Khaki Girls, VADs, and Tommys Sisters: Gender and Class in First World War Britain, The International History Review, Vol. 19, No. 1, Feb 1997, pp. 32-51. Woollacott, Angela. On Her Their Lives Depend, California, 1994. [1] Gould, Jenny. Womens Military Service in First World War Britain in Behind the Lines: Gender and the Two World Wars, Higonnet, Margaret Randolph, Jenson, Jane, Michel, Sonya and Weitz, Margaret Collins (eds.), p. 116. [2] Braybon, Gail. Women and the War in The First World War in British History, Constantine, Stephen, Kirby, Maurice W and Rose, Mary B (eds.), p. 141. [3] Braybon, Gail. Women and the War in The First World War in British History, Constantine, Stephen, Kirby, Maurice W and Rose, Mary B (eds.), p. 141. [4] Simmonds, Alan G. V. Britain and World War One, p. 129. [5] Summers, Anne. Angels and Citizens, p. 227. [6] Summers, Anne. Angels and Citizens, p. 231. [7] Summers, Anne. Angels and Citizens, p. 232. [8] Watson, Janet S. K. Khaki Girls, VADs, and Tommys Sisters: Gender and Class in First World War Britain, The International History Review, p. 33. [9] Watson, Janet S. K. Khaki Girls, VADs, and Tommys Sisters: Gender and Class in First World War Britain, The International History Review, p. 34. [10] Gould, Jenny. Womens Military Service in First World War Britain in Behind the Lines: Gender and the Two World Wars, p. 114. [11] Gould, Jenny. Womens Military Service in First World War Britain in Behind the Lines: Gender and the Two World Wars, p. 117. [12] Gould, Jenny. Womens Military Service in First World War Britain in Behind the Lines: Gender and the Two World Wars, p. 115. [13] Gowdy-Wygant, Cecilia. Cultivating Victory: The Womens Land Army and the Victory Garden, p. 40. [14] Woollacott, Angela. On Her Their Lives Depend, p. 8. [15] Woollacott, Angela. On Her Their Lives Depend, p. 8. [16] Woollacott, Angela. On Her Their Lives Depend, p. 25. [17] Woollacott, Angela. On Her Their Lives Depend, p. 28. [18] The Aberdare Leader, 29th June 1918, p. 8. [19] Deborah Throm. Women and Work in Wartime Britain in The Upheaval of War, Wall, Richard and Winter, Jay, p. 308. [20] Braybon, Gail. Women and the War in The First World War in British History, Constantine, Stephen, Kirby, Maurice W and Rose, Mary B (eds.), p. 150. [21] Warwick, Arthur. The Deluge, p. 154. [22] Woollacott, Angela. On Her Their Lives Depend, p. 152. [23] Watson, Janet S. K. Khaki Girls, VADs, and Tommys Sisters: Gender and Class in First World War Britain, The International History Review, p.p. 36-7. [24] Watson, Janet S. K. Khaki Girls, VADs, and Tommys Sisters: Gender and Class in First World War Britain, The International History Review, p. 37. [25] Gould, Jenny. Womens Military Service in First World War Britain in Behind the Lines: Gender and the Two World Wars, p. 118.

Essay --

In globalization, there are many certain forms of activism to tackle certain issues. Whether it’s using a form of activism to accomplish something as small as receiving someone’s stolen cell phone, protesting and standing up for African American freedom rights or taking down an authoritarian regime, it all takes some sort of activism to promote, establish, and accomplish change. Some forms of activism are far more affective than others. In terms of political and social change, strong-tied high-risk activism is far more affective than weak-tied social-media activism (Gladwell, 2010). To be effective in accomplishing political and social change, people need to have some sort of personal interconnectedness to a movement (Gladwell, 2010, p. 44). In the recitation reading of Gladwell’s story, personal connections and relations gave courage to four African American students to demand and raise awareness for freedom and equality rights and to start the Freedom Summer Sit-In movement with success (Gladwell, 2010, p. 45). To properly tackle political and social change, you also need some sort of organization and strong hierarchal power to stand behind your movement. A good example of this in Gladwells story is when he uses Al Qaeda as an example. According to Gladwell (2010), â€Å"Al Qaeda was most dangerous when it was a unified hierarchy. Now that it has dissipated into a network, it has proved far less effective† (p. 48). Having a hierarchal power behind your movement also puts a face on a movement and reminds you what you are standing up for. Social media activism lacks the basic components of what is needed to make real political and social movements such as individual’s not being directly involved or affected. â€Å"Social networks are effect... ... freedom and openness and inequalities compared globally to the rest of the world. They are now pushing for change, equality, freedom, and striving for the same privileges and rights that most successful developed and developing countries have already established. Some forms of activism are better than others at tackling certain issues. High-risk activism opposed to social-media activism, is far more effective and well suited in successfully accomplishing high-scale and high-risk global equality issues. Demanding race equality, taking down and building authoritarian regimes, demanding for constitutional revisions, and raising awareness have greater chances of success if approached in a high-risk activism approach. Social-media is more of an awareness approach, but once awareness is raised, then it takes a higher and riskier activism to see the whole thing through.

Youth and Beauty Essay -- Media Plastic Surgery Self Image Essays

Youth and Beauty America is a prosperous country. In fact, sociologists have discovered a uniquely American disease that they call â€Å"affluenza.† This term refers to the stress and related disorders that develop from Americans’ need to constantly spend money on material possessions and supposed self-improvement. It is not enough to just be comfortable, we must have it all and look perfect. We work ourselves ragged and neglect our families and relationships just so we can buy the latest television, even though the three we already have work just fine. People in third world countries struggle to keep their children fed. If work is available, they earn money to buy basic necessities; they do not have the luxury of saving up for a new car. As Americans, we are so caught up in the materialistic that advertising is a billion-dollar industry in this country. What we buy also relates to our other obsessions: youth and beauty. We worship celebrities, but only until they turn fifty . Movies featuring older actors (women in particular) are rare; and even our numerous â€Å"reality† television shows all feature beautiful people in their mid-twenties to early-thirties. However, this is not reality: Americans are made up of people of all ages and shapes. Since we can afford it, we buy whatever nature does not provide, from makeup to plastic surgery. Our advertising reflects consumer demand, which in turn reflects American priorities. While people in poorer countries can not pay for surgery that they need to survive, Americans spend millions on surgery to make them look better. For example, the number of breast augmentation surgeries increased five hundred and ninety-three percent from 1992 to 2002 according to the American... ...ese ads play to that mindset. They say that you can have your looks without spending large amounts of time or money on plastic surgery; and since we as a society have a large expendable income, we are particularly susceptible to this type of advertising ploy. We want to be able to buy as many things as we want, so we are attracted to products that can save us money while giving us what we think we need. Cosmetics also offer more rapid results than surgery, which is important in our fast-food culture. It is a promise of youth and beauty in a bottle: what every American wants. Works Cited American Society of Plastic Surgeons. 2004. 20 February 2004. . Lutz, William. â€Å"With These Words, I Can Sell You Anything.† Exploring Language. Ed.Gary Goshgarian. Pearson Longman, New York: 2004, 393-406.

I Want to be an Art Teacher :: Teaching Educacion Admissions

I Want to be an Art Teacher Have you ever been to a point in your life where there were to many decisions and not enough time? This is what happened to me in my senior year of high school. Throughout my teen years, I never discussed college with my family or did they with me. College for some reason was not on my agenda. Then I realized that I wanted to go to further my education. The reason I chose to go to college was that I am an artist, and felt that I needed to learn more about art techniques. I didn’t want to loose my talent, and I realized how much I enjoyed being in class. I had the privilege of being a student of some wonderful teachers at the high school I attended, and they influenced my decision to becoming an art teacher. Teaching is a challenging profession, but also very rewarding. I had the opportunity to do an art project with local kids of Monroe County over the summer. That experience helped me a great deal to see a glimpse of my future. During the four-week program the kids worked and learned about all forms of art. The teaching experience gave me pleasure on departing some knowledge and interest to the children that were there. That feeling of accomplishment for myself and seeing it in the faces of the children encourages me to proceed in my goals on becoming an art teacher. My goals as a teacher will be managing my classroom in an eclectic way of combining philosophies. Differing seating arrangements in art classes are limited, therefore are materials need to be shared among the students. In my class, there will be at least four chairs to each table so that material can be dispersed equally. On the bulletin boards I will display work of past and present students to show their accomplishments in my class. The materials needed is wide range, they include paints, color pencils, drawing pencils, markers, differing sizes of paper, scissors, and much more. Projects will be fun and pertaining to the Arts.

Sex without Love

Just Sex, Nothing Else â€Å"How do they do it, the ones who make love/ without love† (Olds, 1-2)? As time goes on, the value of love and intimacy in sex diminishes further and further. In the past, becoming intimate with another person had very strong meaning and was frowned upon outside of marriage. Although there are still people who value sex in its purist form and value the meaning of the action, more people desire only the pleasure that comes from sex instead of the love and connection that it creates.In â€Å"Misery and Splendor† by Robert Hass and â€Å"Sex Without Love† by Sharon Olds, both poets present the idea that having sex without love is hard to grasp and ultimately dissatisfying. Hass and Olds argue this idea through the use of imagery and tone. Poets and authors are very careful with the words they choose to be in their pieces. Authors most often paint a verbal picture for the reader that reinforces his or her underlying argument. In â€Å"Mise ry and Splendor† and â€Å"Sex Without Love,† both Hass and Olds create very vivid imagery for their readers to create certain visuals while reading.In â€Å"Misery and Splendor,† Hass describes the man and woman as â€Å"trying to become one creature/ and something will not have it† (13-14). With this description, Robert Hass explains to the reader that the two people in his poem are trying to find love in their physical intimacy, but there remains another unknown force preventing them from finding this love. Hass also paints the image of this relationship being somewhat animalistic. â€Å"So they rub against each other/ their mouths dry, then wet, then dry† (17-18).This image does not create a lovely, romantic scene like sex is most often thought to be. Instead, Hass refers that the two people become intimate in a brutish way. By doing this, Hass makes the point that the man and woman are becoming intimate in the physical manner instead of the emo tional manner. Hass ends the poem by stating that the two are â€Å"huddled against the gate of a garden/ to which they can’t admit they can never be admitted† (23-24). This image gives the reader the image that the couple is waiting for something, but will never be able to find what they are waiting for.These two people are having sex in search for love; however, by strictly becoming physically intimate, they are disappointed by never finding the love they desire. The physical qualities of sex do not come hand-in-hand with the emotional qualities that this couple desires. By making the couple wait for this love after they become intimate, Hass demonstrates that he believes the love must be present before the intimacy and sex can happen between two people.Not only does Hass use imagery in his work, Sharon Olds creates very strong imagery in â€Å"Sex Without Love† to demonstrate the same concept as Hass, which is that sex without love is very disappointing and a hard concept to understand. However, Olds uses a slightly different approach with the imagery in her poem. Throughout the poem, Sharon Olds creates imagery that is very ironic for the reader. The images she creates are meant to be beautiful actions; however, Olds represents them in quite the opposite way.They are â€Å"wet as the/ children at birth whose mothers are going to/ give them away† (6-8). When a mother gives birth to a child, it is most popularly known as the best day of the mother’s life. The occasion is a very happy and celebratory time. However, in the poem, Olds paints the picture of a mother giving her child away. She uses this image to enforce that sex without love could have repercussions that are very negative. Although sex may have physical benefits, it also comes with consequences as well. Olds also depicts these people as runners. They know they are alone/ with the road surface, the cold, the wind/ the fit of their shoes, their over-all-cardio-/ v ascular health-just factors, like the partner/ in the bed, and not the truth† (18-21). Although the people that choose to be intimate without pairing it with love know that they are alone, they do not seem to care. They are like runners; they want the physical aspects of the action but nothing else. Olds also states that the people like runners â€Å"know they are alone† (18). This depicts that these people believe they are capable of doing things on their own, without help.They see their partner as a factor that helps them achieve the goal that they desire. When these people have this viewpoint, Olds describes them as â€Å"a single body in the universe/ against its own best time† (23-24). Until these independent, do-it-yourself people realize that a single person cannot achieve love, Olds claims that the search for the love and intimacy that two individuals share remains to be a very lonely and dissatisfying time. Not only do these poets create vivid imagery, b oth Hass and Olds also form ery distinct tones throughout their poems to convey this thought that love cannot be achieved through sex alone. â€Å"Summoned by conscious recollection, she/ would be smiling, they might be in a kitchen talking/ before or after dinner† (Hass, 1-3). The first three lines set an important tone to this poem â€Å"Misery and Splendor†. In these first lines, Hass claims that the man and woman are conscious of what should be happening. They both know that if they shared love, they would be happy and having a good conversation after dinner.Instead, â€Å"they are in this other room/ the window has many small panes, and they are on a couch/ embracing† (3-5). Hass compares what they should be doing to what they are actually doing to set this yearning tone that makes the couple seem desperate. They are desperate to find this love between them; however, the love is not reachable. â€Å"The light in the room/ does not change† (11-12). Th is statement also creates a somewhat dark and negative tone. By stating that the light stays the same, it seems as though nothing else emotionally between the couple changes either.This dark and unpleasant tone that Hass depicts throughout the poem also reinforces his argument that trying to find love by performing the act of sex alone will be extremely disappointing. Although the man and woman are being intimate with one another, the disappointment still lingers throughout them. â€Å"They are tender/ with each other, afraid/ their brief, sharp cries will reconcile them to the moment/ when they fall away again† (14-17). The couple feels the intimacy in the moment, but as soon as it is over, they go back to feeling nothing.They try to hold on to feeling in the moment, but it is soon stripped away. The couple fears that the love will never be achieved, and they cling to the thought of this love they desire so much. However, because this love is not present, the couple cannot h old on to this artificial feeling that refuses to remain. While Hass conveys his idea in â€Å"Misery and Splendor† through the suggested tone, Olds also advocates her thoughts through the tone created in â€Å"Sex Without Love. † By beginning the poem with a question, Olds sets the tone in a somewhat negative way.She asks, â€Å"how do they do it, the ones who make love/ without love† (1-2). By posing this question, Olds seems baffled by the fact that people can become intimate with another person without loving that person first. Her misunderstanding and amazement of the concept also makes this idea making love without actually having love seem very skeptical and difficult to grasp. â€Å"How do they come to the/ come to the come to the God come to the/ still waters, and not love/ the one who came there with them† (8-11).This second question that Olds presents in her poem, reinforces not only her misunderstanding of these people, but also the tone she h as created. This question that Olds has posed reinforces the idea that these people do not truly love the person they are becoming intimate with. The fact that Olds is questioning this concept creates a negative connotation of this action. This negative tone that Olds uses in this poem is also seen through her metaphor of these people as runners- â€Å"They know they are alone† (18); â€Å"[they are a] single body alone in the universe/ against its own best time† (23-24).Olds implies that these â€Å"runners† are alone. This metaphor creates not only a negative tone, but also implies that these people are ultimately lonely. As Olds indicates that these people are lonely, the negative tone that she fuses through her poem becomes stronger. Love is not intended to be lonely. With these questions inserted in the poem and the implication of the person being â€Å"alone in the universe† (23), the tone of â€Å"Sex Without Love† is negative and disappoint ing, similar to the tone in â€Å"Misery and Splendor. † Both â€Å"Misery and Splendor† and â€Å"Sex Without Love† have very similar underlying meanings.Both Hass and Olds take an â€Å"old-fashioned† stance on the concept of being intimate with another person without feeling love for him or her first. Through the use of imagery and tone, these poets convey their thoughts that having sex before love will lead to disappointing, consequential repercussions. Although that is not the typical viewpoint today, these poets do pose an interesting stance on this topic. Instead of receiving media messages that having â€Å"sex friends† or â€Å"friends with benefits† is a normal occurrence, Hass and Olds both give reasons as to why this could be misleading.They both explain that love cannot be found through the act of sex alone. Love comes from an emotional place before a physical place. Both Robert Hass and Sharon Olds share this idea that the phys ical factors of sex alone will not lead to the emotional benefits of love. Works Cited Hass, Robert. â€Å"Misery and Splendor. † Class Document for English 230-008, Fall 2012. Olds, Sharon. â€Å"Sex Without Love† The Seagull Reader: Poems. Ed. Joseph Kelly. New York: W. W. Norton, 2008. 231-232. Print

Logistics Readiness

Logistics came from the word logos (), which means â€Å"calculation, ratio, reason, speech and oration.† Since ancient times, logistics is already used to supply, move and maintain armies especially during war time. Historical leaders such as Alexander the Great, Hannibal Barca, and the Duke of Wellington are said to be logistical geniuses who mobilized their army through great distances, and won numerous battles. During World War II, logistics played an important role for the United States since the resources is during that time is limited due to the depression and most of the battles happened in enemy territories in Europe. Today, logistics is now also known as supply chain management (SCM) and defined as the art and science of planning, operation, control, design and development, procurement, inventory, maintenance, storage, distribution and replacement of personnel, materials, supplies and other resources. (LogisticsWorld) Logistics or SCM does not only apply to the military but to business, production and trade well. The main objective of logistics is simple, that is, to use the resources without waste to meet or exceed the demands of the party in need. These resources that must be minimized (or sometimes maximized) include fuel, personnel, equipment, storage facilities, handling facilities, transport vehicles and most importantly, time and money. There are two criteria for which all logistics decisions and policies are based. These are production efficiency and effectiveness. (Eccles, 1959) By using the resources efficiently and effectively is to have the advantage of getting bigger opportunities, higher revenues, strategic advantage in coverage and location, and preparedness for crucial events that might happen. Developed from James A. Huston’s Sinews of War are some of the important principles considered in logistics. These principles are: Timing. Should be relative to the objective and dependent in the level of procurement, whether a high-level or a just simply a tactical supply. Proper timing is important especially when certain risks are involved in accomplishing a certain task. Feasibility. Logistics planning and design should also consider the organization’s capabilities of carrying out orders. It is crucial to determine whether the organization can possibly accomplish the task given the difficulty of the demands. Flexibility. A logistics organization must be capable of adapting to new or changes in requirements or terrain conditions. A logistics organization must be able to convert according to the present conditions or problems that are encountered anytime along the way. Information. Accurate and up-to-date information on every aspect is vital to logistics planning and distribution. False or unseen information may lead to accidents or loss of revenue. Economics. Resources allocated for logistics are almost always limited and it is necessary to use them in the best way to achieve or exceed the primary goal. Relativity. Logistics activity is all relative to time, location, availability of resources and circumstances and can never be absolute. Each logistic activity is unique and changes according to different conditions and demands. Location is also an important factor being considered in logistics. This applies for both the distribution center and the destinations at which the required product or good is needed. It is crucial to determine the location in logistics as it determines the distance, total time needed to travel, and how big is the coverage of the distribution center at which it can deliver the desired goods at minimized cost. The nearer the location of the distribution center, the shorter the time it takes to deliver and the lesser the cost of travel that will be used. Location does not only mean the distance but also the topography of the region. The topography of the place between the source and destination dictates the appropriate or best mode of transport that should be used. For example, to deliver supplies in mountainous area from a lowland city, the best way to deliver the product or good in a time-efficient manner is through air by helicopters. But if there is an acceptable and safe road present towards the destination, delivering by land is more cost-efficient. To attain higher logistic efficiency, there are a lot of factors that are involved depending on the demands and level of procurement. Location is only one but an important factor that must be considered to have a more efficient and effective method of procurement and distribution of goods. Some of these factors include: the distribution strategy; resource availability; network configuration, and; inventory management. Logistics, added with efficiency and effectiveness translates to power. (Boutelle, 2007) This applies to both the military and in trade & industry. Logistics can be seen as military power or economic power depending on the one who perceives it. As of today, the United States military does not content itself of having the most powerful army, but now also develop ways in order to create a the most cost-effective military that can withstand the long-term war on terrorism. The knowledge and foresight of supply and movement factors are the basis of a logistician’s plan. Only then he can know when and how to take risks that will win him battles and achieve the ultimate goal; which is the betterment of his fellow men. (Wavell, 1946) References: Boutelle, L. G. (2007). CIO View. Retrieved August 18, 2007, from Defense Systems Website: http://www.defensesystems.com/issues/1_5/cio_view/464-1.html Cox, M. D. (1999, September). LogisticsWorld. Retrieved August 17, 2007, from LogisticsWorld Website: http://www.logisticsworld.com/logistics.htm Eccles, A. H. (1959). Logistics in the National Defense. Harrisburg, Pa. How The Army Runs. (n.d.). Retrieved August 17, 2007, from US Army WAr College Website: http://carlisle-www.army.mil/usawc/dclm/linkedtextchapters/CHAPTER12.pdf Huston, J. A. (1966). The Sinews of War: Army Logistics, 1775-1953. Washington: Office of Military History, United States Army. Wavell, F. M. (1946). Speaking Generally. London: Macmillan. Worthen, B. (n.d.). ABC: An Introduction to Supply Chain Management. Retrieved August 18, 2007, from Business Technology Leadership Website: http://www.cio.com/article/40940   

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Essay

Artificial intelligence (AI) results to simulation of intellectual practice such as comprehension, rationalization and learning symbolic information in context. In AI, the automation or programming of all aspects of human cognition is considered from its foundations in cognitive science through approaches to symbolic and sub-symbolic AI, natural language processing, computer vision, and evolutionary or adaptive systems. (Neumann n. d.) AI considered being an extremely intricate domain of problems which during preliminary stages in the problem-solving phase of this nature, the problem itself may be viewed poorly. A precise picture of the problem can only be seen upon interactive and incremental refinement of course, after you have taken the initial attempt to solve the mystery. AI always comes hand in hand with machine logistics. How else could mind act appropriately but with the body. In this case, a machine takes the part of the body. In a bit, this literature will be tackling about AI implemented through Neural Network. The author deems it necessary though to tackle Machine learning and thus the succeeding paragraphs. Machine Learning is primarily concerned with designing and developing algorithms and procedures that allow machines to â€Å"learn† – either inductive or deductive, which, in general, is its two types. At this point, we will be referring to machines as computers since in the world nowadays, the latter are the most widely used for control. Hence, we now hone our definition of Machine Learning as the study of methods for programming computers to learn. Computers are applied to a wide range of tasks, and for most of these it is relatively easy for programmers to design and implement the necessary software. (Dietterich n. d. ) Machine learning techniques are grouped into different categories basing on the expected outcome. Common types include Supervised, Unsupervised, Semi-supervised or Reinforcement learning. There is also the Transduction method and the ‘Learning to learn’ scheme. A section of theoretical computer science, Computational Learning Theory is the investigation on the computation of algorithms of Machine Learning including its efficiency. Researches on Machine Learning focuses mainly on the automatic extraction of information data, through computational and statistical methods. It is very much correlated not only to theoretical computer science as well as data mining and statistics. Supervised learning is the simplest learning task. It is an algorithm to which it is ruled by a function that automatically plots inputs to expected outputs. The task of supervised learning is to construct a classifier given a set of classified training examples (Dietterich n. d.). The main challenge for supervised learning is that of generalization that a machine is expected in approximating the conduct that a function will exhibit which maps out a connection towards a number of classes through comparison of IO samples of the said function. When many plot-vector pairs are interrelated, a decision tree is derived which aids into viewing how the machine behaves with the function it currently holds. One advantage of decision trees is that, if they are not too large, they can be interpreted by humans. This can be useful both for gaining insight into the data and also for validating the reasonableness of the learned tree (Dietterich n. d. ). In unsupervised learning, manual matching of inputs is not utilized. Though, it is most often distinguished as supervised learning and it is one with an unknown output. This makes it very hard to decide what counts as success and suggests that the central problem is to find a suitable objective function that can replace the goal of agreeing with the teacher (Hinton & Sejnowski 1999). Simple classic examples of unsupervised learning include clustering and dimensionality reduction. (Ghahramani 2004) Semi-supervised learning entails learning situations where is an ample number of labelled data as compared to the unlabelled data. These are very natural situations, especially in domains where collecting data can be cheap (i. e. the internet) but labelling can be very expensive/time consuming. Many of the approaches to this problem attempt to infer a manifold, graph structure, or tree-structure from the unlabelled data and use spread in this structure to determine how labels will generalize to new unlabelled points. (Ghahramani 2004) Transduction is comparable to supervised learning in predicting new results with training inputs and outputs, as well as, test inputs – accessible during teaching, as basis, instead of behaving in accordance to some function. All these various types of Machine-Learning techniques can be used to fully implement Artificial Intelligence for a robust Cross-Language translation. One thing though, this literature is yet to discuss the planned process of machine learning this research shall employ, and that is by Neural Networks.

Herbal Medicine: Echinacea and Kava Essay

The use of herbal medicine and remedies as opposed to traditional prescription medications is becoming increasingly popular among doctors, therapists, and patients. Many herbs, whether administered in the form of tea, capsules, or simply eaten, have been proven to ease various pains and ailments; and when taken on a daily basis, there are herbs that help maintain overall health and wellbeing (Meuninck, 2008, p. 4). Studies have shown that two herbs in particular, Echinacea and kava, have been effective in treating a series of symptoms including anxiety and depression, headaches, and fibromyalgia (Mindell & Hopkins, 2009, p. 219). The use of these herbs benefits doctors and patients alike, as they offer an alternative treatment to symptoms that many people experience on a regular basis. Echinacea can be commonly found in beauty products, diet supplements, and herbal teas. Due to its ability to balance and maintain the immune system, some people take Echinacea in one form or another every day (Watson & Preedy, 2008, p.  687). This herb, in fact, is among the most popular and widely used dietary supplements in the United States, with people taking Echinacea or a type of derivative from the plant. According to the Southern Medical Journal, Echinacea today is used mostly to treat and prevent upper respiratory tract infection, or URI, which includes the influenza and the common cold—illnesses that account for 40% of the time that Americans lose from work and 30% of the time they call in sick from school (Islam & Carter, 2005, p.  311). It is evident that this particular herb can be used for the treatment of a specific temporary ailment as well as in a preventative manner. As soon as a person feels as if they have a cold coming on, they are advised to begin taking the herb orally in order to combat the spread and onset of the cold or flu virus. Echinacea has scientifically been proven to possess many anti-inflammatory properties, which explains its effectiveness at fighting respiratory problems (Zili et al. , 2007, p. 232). This herb, however, is not only beneficial in terms of warding off common cold symptoms. It has also been able to ease pain and discomfort associated with other diseases as well. First, it is crucial to understand that Echinacea can be an extremely powerful herb that may be used to fight different forms of bacteria, which is why it is used so often when a person has a cold or flu virus. A Canadian study observed six Echinacea extracts that are currently sold commercially, and the effect that those extracts had on 15 human pathogenic bacteria as well as two pathogenic fungi. Five bacteria were especially sensitive to the Echinacea extracts—Streptococcus pyogenes, Legionella pneumophila, Haemophilus influenzae, Propionibacterium acne, and Clostridium difficile—which indicated that the herb did have a significant effect in fighting certain forms of bacteria, such as that which causes strep throat (Sharma et al. , 2008, p. 111). Many factors were taken into consideration, such as the effect of light on the bacteria and fungi, as well as the forms and preparations of the different extracts; and this greatly reduced any assumptions made. This study was quite thorough, although it was limited by the number of extracts, bacteria, and fungi that they were able to test. With the samples they did test, however, they were able to conclude that â€Å"†¦certain preparations of Echinacea†¦ could provide useful protection or symptom alleviation in cases of pharyngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and various cutaneous lesions, including acne vulgaris, [and] wound infections†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Sharma et al. , 2008, p. 115). Another study outlined in the Journal of Women’s Health also conducted a survey to determine how many women with fibromyalgia turned to herbal treatment as opposed to other forms of medicine. The assumptions were that women were taking herbs because they worked, and not because they were left with no other alternative—that is, fibromyalgia is quite complicated and there are very few medications that can alleviate the pain. The test subjects therefore could have been turning to herbs like Echinacea as a last resort as opposed to taking the herb because it actually helped with their discomfort. Additionally, the limitations of this study are that the group of subjects was not randomly selected, and the results were entirely self-reported. At the end of the study, it was concluded that women with Fibromyalgia were likely to take herbal supplements and use herbal remedies in order to treat the several symptoms associated with their condition (Shaver et al. , 2009, p. 716). This shows Echinacea’s applicability to a wide range of illnesses and symptoms, and how it can be used by naturopaths and other doctors in the treatment of their patients as opposed to over-the-counter medications. Unlike Echinacea, kava is an herb that has received mixed reviews in terms of the safety of its use. Kava is an anxiolytic drug that has been used for hundreds of years by people in the Pacific Islands, yet it is currently banned in the United Kingdom (Ernst, 2007, p. 415). When used in large quantities, it has been shown to have toxic effect on one’s liver; but when administered in safe doses, there are many people who swear by its healing benefits. The Pacific Islanders have been known to use kava as a sedative, a hypnotic, and aphrodisiac, an antiseptic, and a diuretic. Kava has also been popular in Germany, where people use various kava products for the treatment of anxiety, restlessness, and abdominal discomfort (Richardson & Henderson, 2007, p. 418). One of the greatest benefits of kava use, however, is for the treatment of anxiety and depression—especially since those disorders, while mental, can result in serious physical symptoms. An Australian study sought to determine the mental effects of kava by studying a random group of 28 adults suffering from major depressive disorder and anxiety. Assumptions included the test group not taking additional anti-depressants on the side, and that the small dose of kava would be enough to take effect. This study was also limited by the mix of kava with St. John’s Wort (Sarris et al. , 2009, p. 41). Rather than it being administered in a pure form, it was more of an herbal cocktail. Both, a placebo and a kava supplement were administered for four weeks each. At the end of the study, the majority of those in the study group reported having a reduced feeling of depression after taking the kava rather than the placebo. Although they did not report their quality of life or level of anxiety as being significantly improved, it is clear that their overall state of depression was affected by the kava. Regardless of the fact that some professionals believe kava to be dangerous and toxic, its long history in Pacific Island culture far outweighs its risks (Sarris & Kavanagh, 2009, p. 828). Kava has been one of the ways in which many islanders have been able to maintain mental and emotional balance and fight depression without the use of anti-depressants, which are typically linked to dangerous side effects. Consider some of the physical symptoms of depression and anxiety—migraines, muscle tension, and widespread aches and pains. With kava’s abilities to aid in one’s state of depression, people can benefit from the plant’s positive effects on pain in general. So long as it is administered in proper doses, as they do in the Pacific Islands, kava provides people with another option to treat depression and any other symptoms that may be caused by tension or emotional imbalance. Although herbs alone cannot cure all forms of disease or discomfort, these studies illustrates how Echinacea and kava both possess health benefits that may help with several symptoms and disorders. Herbs such as kava may be disputed for their levels of potential toxicity, but many prescriptions pills can prove to be just as dangerous or even more so. Regardless of whether Echinacea or kava can necessarily cure a certain illness, they provide patients and doctors with another option—a natural approach to relieving pain or sickness, as opposed to over-the-counter medications.